. >> i can report that we've reached an agreement on all of the tax -- the tax -- issues. >> reporter: first and foremost, the bush era tax cuts. the two sides agreed to extend them permanently for all household income under $400,000 a year for individuals, $450,000 a year for families. negotiators also agreed to prevent the al tesh tiff minimum tax on the wealthy from hitting millions of middle class families every year by permanently adjusting it to inflation. and they agreed to hike the estate tax rate from 35% to 40%, but the first $5 million worth of inheritance would be exempt from taxation permanently. the breakthugh prompted relief for many, including connecticut senator joe lieber man. >> i hope the negotiations going on now end with an agreement and i hope that we will pass it with bipartisan majority in theong senate and the house. >> reporter: but others, chiefly republicans, were angry that the deal did not include a serious package of spending cuts and might actually add to the deficit. tennessee senator bob corker. >> everybody on this body knows we've done nothing -- n